James Newman is a stage director, educator and producer. He served as Artistic Director of Summer Repertory Theatre Festival in Santa Rosa, California from 2006 to 2023, when the unfortunate decision was made to shudder this successful 50 year old program. During his tenure at Summer Rep, James directed Cinderella, Sister Act, Pippin, Bonnie & Clyde, West Side Story, Chicago, Merrily We Roll Along, South Pacific, Stones in his Pockets, La Cage aux Folles, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Human Events, and the North Bay premieres of Shrek the Musical,9 to 5 the Musical, Hairspray, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Drood, and Peter and the Starcatcher. James has also directed Guys & Dolls at 6th Street Playhouse, Head Over Heels at Nebraska Weslyan and A Christmas Carol at Santa Rosa Junior College. As an adaptor, his work has included new adaptations of Peter Pan, Hamlet: Three Deaths in Denmark and Dangerous Liaisons (with Vampires).   James recently relocated to the Denver area.